A Pure Priesthood {Scheidbach}

If you are a believer, you are a priest in the New Testament Temple (I Peter 2:5), which is your body (I Corinthians 6:19-20), and your heart is His Holy Place (Galatians 4:6). It’s a royal priesthood, charged with the duty of presenting spiritual sacrifices (I Peter 2:5). God has invested this treasure in earthen vessels (II Corinthians 4:7). And so He commands His priests to study how to keep their vessels in sanctification and honor (I Thessalonians 4:4; compare II Timothy 2:21). Many of the vessels are unsanctified. Covetous, corrupt priests have defiled the Temple of God. These priests grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30-31) and even quench Him (I Thessalonians 5:19)…. Many New Testament priests today are like Hophni and Phineas, the sons of Eli (I Samuel 1-3). They were belly servers, feeding their own lusts (I Samuel 2:9). These wicked priests, “… lay with the women that assembled at the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation” (I Samuel 2:22). God destroyed them. Of how much greater judgment do you suppose New Testament priests are worthy if they erect idols of covetousness in the very room where the Holy Ghost dwells, yea, if they entertain impure thoughts in the very throne room of God, yea, if they commit adultery and fornication in the Holy of Holies — for ye priests of these things in your heart (Colossians 3:5; Matthew 5:28). [These wicked priests need to repent.] And the priests will not repent until they are humbled. And they will be humbled! God is going to move mightily in our midst and purge His House (I Timothy 3:15). The priests who refuse to repent will be destroyed (I Corinthians 3:17). Fellow priests, if we judge ourselves, we may avert the coming judgment of God (I Corinthians 11:31). Mark my words! Judgment is framed in the heart of God; and when it begins, those who are of the spirit of Ted Haggard will drop dead in our churches as did Ananias and Sapphira (Act 5). So I call upon you to humble your soul with fasting (Psalm 35:13).